(VIDEO) Azerbaijan Confirms It Is the Latest Operator of JF-17 Block III Fighter Jets
(VIDEO) The latest variant of the JF-17 Block III fighter jet was handed over to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, who also serves as the country's Commander-in-Chief, during a ceremony at Heydar Aliyev International Airport a few days ago.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Azerbaijan has officially become the latest country to adopt the JF-17 Block III fighter jet, developed jointly by Pakistan and China.
The latest variant of the JF-17 Block III was handed over to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who also serves as the country’s Commander-in-Chief, during a ceremony at Heydar Aliyev International Airport a few days ago.
“The fighter jets (JF-17 Block III) have been integrated into the Azerbaijan Air Force,” according to a statement from the Azerbaijani president’s office. The office also released images of the handover ceremony, showing the delivery of the JF-17 Block III jets to the Azerbaijan Air Force at the airport.
President Aliyev was also seen sitting in the cockpit of the fighter jet, inspecting its equipment and components.
The JF-17 fighter jets are co-developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG).
Back in February, it was reported that Azerbaijan was in talks with Pakistan to acquire several units of the latest JF-17 “Thunder” Block III variant under a deal estimated to be worth US$1.6 billion (RM7.2 billion).
The JF-17 Block III jets acquired by Azerbaijan are set to replace the country’s aging fleet of Russian-made MiG-29 fighters.
Geostrategically, Azerbaijan’s acquisition of the JF-17 Block III represents a significant breakthrough for Pakistan and China in penetrating the Central Asian arms market, which has traditionally been dominated by Russian defense companies.
The JF-17 Block III is reported to carry some of the DNA of China’s fifth-generation J-20 “Mighty Dragon” fighter jet.
This latest variant of the JF-17 is more advanced and capable, incorporating technology from the J-20, and has been under development for the past two years.
One of the major upgrades in the JF-17 Block III compared to the Block II is the integration of the Chinese-made Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the “KLJ-7A,” developed by China Electronics Technology Group.
Chinese military analysts claim that the KLJ-7A AESA radar is comparable to the AN/APG-81 radar found on the American fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet, as well as the N036 phased array radar used by Russia’s Su-57 fighter.
In terms of air-to-air weaponry, the JF-17 Block III will be equipped with two types of missiles, including the PL-10, which is also used by China’s most advanced fighter, the J-20 “Mighty Dragon.”
The PL-10 is a short-range missile comparable to the American AIM-9X missile.
Another missile that will equip the JF-17 Block III is the PL-15, which boasts an operational range of 200km to 300km, giving it an edge over the air-to-air missiles currently used by Indian fighter jets.
However, media reports in September indicated that Azerbaijan’s JF-17 “Thunder” Block III jets would be outfitted with Turkish-made air-to-air missiles, namely the Gokdogan BVRAAM and Bozdogan WVRAAM, produced by Turkey’s defense industry.
The JF-17 Block III fighters will also feature avionics developed by Turkish defense companies.
The selection of Turkish-made air-to-air missiles for Azerbaijan’s JF-17 Block III jets is seen as a recognition of Turkey’s growing defense industry capabilities.
Azerbaijan and Turkey maintain strong defense ties, and both the Gokdogan BVRAAM and Bozdogan WVRAAM are developed by Tubitak Sage, a prominent Turkish defense firm. — DSA
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